Sanitation device



Jan, 17, 1950 J. MONAGHAN SANITATION DEVICE 6 Shet-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21, 1945 Jan. 17, 1950 J. MONAGHAN SANITATION DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 21, l943 Jan 17, 1950 J. MONAGHAN SANITATION DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 21, 1943 lA/VE/VTOR Jan 17, 1950 .1. MONAGHAN 2,494,894

SANITATION DEVICE Filed Oct. 21, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 @N K x l 1 Q A i I Q Q ATTO/P/VEYJ 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 MONAGHAN SANITATION DEVICE //VV/V 7'01? Ja mes Momzyfian W, owwwiw A TTORNE K5 Jan. 17, 1950 FiledOct. 21, 1945 Jan. 17, 1950 J. MONAGHAN SANITATION DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 21, 1943 ill I] //VVENTO(? w W n r a T M MA 5 W m D m Patented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 21, 1943, Serial No. 507,129

r In Great Britain July 5, 1943 1.6 Claims.

This invention relates to sanitation devices and has particular reference to sanitation devices for automatically sterilizing or giving a freshening treatment to articles which are used successively by different persons so that each person may have the use of the article in an absolutely sanitary condition. Among such articles are toilet seats, dental and barber shop supplies and the like which are used successively on or by different persons.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved device of this character of simplified construction and arrangement. In accordance with this object the invention comprisesa device in which two of the articles are included oneot which may be in use while the other is being sterilized or freshened or has been sterilized or freshened. The device includes a sterilizing or refreshing chamber having a closure which serves to seal the chamber and which has disposed onopposite sides thereof the articles to be sterilized or freshened the closure being adapted to be rotated through 180 to bring one of the articlesinto position for use and the other into position within the sterilizing or refreshing chamber. The sterilizing or freshem'ng means may consist of an electric heater or lamp or chemical or other disiniectingdrying or freshening media. A locking handle for the closure is suitably operatively connected with the articles to be sterilized or ireshened so as to ensure that the articles will be :in a position to permit rotation of the closure when the handle is operated to open the closure and that the articles are free for service when the handle is in looking position.

In. the applicationof the inventionto a toilet the apparatus includes a sterilizing or refreshing chamber located behind and above the bowl of the toilet and a closure for the sterilizingor re- Ireshing chamber on which are hingedly mounted a pair of toiletseats one associated with each of two faces of the closure. The closure or a portion thereof is adapted to be rotated about a central axis in order to bring the one seat which has been in thesterilizing or refreshing chamber into position behind the toilet bowl and the other into the sterilizing or refreshing chamber to be sterilized or freshened. A handle for operating the closure is operatively connected with the seats bycable or thelike in such manner as to cause a lowered seat to rise when the closure is being unlocked. Wherethe seat is formed of two half seats the central part of the closure may be in the form of a fixed panel around which a frameworltcarryingthe halfseats rotate. 'I'hisarrangement permits the convenient disposal of the sterilizing or refreshing unit in the sterilizing. or refreshing chamber immediately behind the stationary panel and between the two halves of a seat.

For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which are illustrated three embodiments of the invention as applied to the sanitation of toilet seats. A device such as illustrated may be used on the toilets of clubs, railway stations, public buildings or the like where the toilets are used by a great number of different persons. For public purposes the device may be made initially operative by a switch controlled by opening or closing the door of the compartment containing the toilet or by a coin controlled device or otherwise.

:In the drawings Fig. l is a side elevation one embodiment of the improved sanitation um't disposed above or behind a toilet bowl and showing one ofthe seats in lowered position in full lines and in raised position in dot and dash lines. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the unit with the seat comprised of two half seats in raised position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view with the seat in lowered position and Fig. 4 a horizontal section on the line 4a: -4:z: of Fig. 2 showing the sterilizing or refreshing chamber, an electric sterilizing or refreshing unit and both seats in raised position. Fig. 5 is a detail in elevation of the upper portion of the closure or front wall of the sterilizing or refreshing chamber showing the locking handle. Fig. 6 is a plan view. Fig. '7 is a detail partly in section on the line Ir-4r of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8r8.r of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a part plan view of Fig. 5 with the top beam removed. Fig. 10 is a detailin elevation of the lower portion of the front wall of the sterilizing orrefreshing chamber. Fig. 11 is a view in horizontal section, partly. on the line I Ix-l la: of Fig. 10 and partly on the top line of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2r-l2x of Fig. 11 andFig. 13 a section on the line l3a:-l3x of Fig. 11. Fig. 14is a front elevation corresponding to Fig. 1 of a second embodiment and Fig. 15 a horizontal section on the line l5:c!5m of Fig. '14, while Fig. 16 is a front elevation of a still further embodiment and Fig. 17 a horizontal section on the line Throughout the several figures of the drawings like references indicate like parts.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 13 of the drawings l indicates the bowl of the toilet, 2 the sterilizing or refreshing chamber suitably of vitreous earthenware of the sanitation unit disposed above and engages the compression springs behind the bowl and 3 the closure or front wall of the sterilizing or refreshing chamber. The closure is formed of a tubular frame 4 with filler panels 5 and 6 of laminated plastic or other material at each side of a centrally disposed stationary panel I and is rotatable about upper and lower pivots 8 and 9 secured in upper and lower members Ill and Illa respectively of the sterilizing or refreshing chamber. In order to prevent rotation of the central panel 1 the upper part of the upper pivot 3 is of non-circular shape and this part of the pivot extends through an opening of similar shape in a locking plate 8a attached to the upper member ll of the chamber. The panel I is supported in brackets I4 rigidly secured to pivots 8 and 9. The sterilizing medium in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 13 consists of an electrical heating unit l2 projecting into the sterilizing chamber and supported in a block l3 of heat and electrical insulating material secured to brackets 14 mounted on the pivots. The heating unit I2 is supplied with current through an insulated cable secured by bracket 13a to the upper member ll] of the sterilizing chamber. Associated with each face of the closure of the sterilizing chamber is a toilet seat. Each toilet seat is arranged as two half seats l5, carried by brackets l6 mounted on horizontal rod I! supported in the lower member I I of the closure and is adapted to be lowered into position on the toilet bowl against the action of torsion spring l8 and compression spring 18a, two only of which are indicated in Fig. 11.

With each pair of springs IBa is associated a brake clip I9 embracing the horizontal rods 11. The clip is formed with notches ISa which engage and brake pins [1a during the rotation of the horizontal hinge rod IT. The rear of the clip lBa. It is adapted to be moved to compress the springs and release the rods by means of a cable 20 extending through one of the tubular uprights of the frame 4 and secured to a locking handle 2| for locking 'the closure in position in front of the sterilizing chamber. A compression spring 20a on the cable prevents backlash of the handle 2|. The handle 2| which is formed with handle arms on each side of the closure is pivotally mounted on the tubular frame and is formed with a projecting nose 22 adapted to engage a recess in one of the two plates 23 secured to the lower face of the upper member I 0 of the sterilizing chamber.

Initial downward movement of the handle arms serves to pull the cable 20 and compress the spring 18a thereby freeing pins I la from brake clip I9 and permitting the used toilet seat to rise to a vertical position by means of torsion spring l8 while further movement brings the nose 22 out of engagement with the recess in the plate 23 freeing the closure which can now be rotated through 180 to bring the seat previously within rotate with rod 11, moving in and out of notches l9a, the sides of which diverge to permit such movement of the pins. The lowering of the seat also stresses torsion spring 18.

In the lowered position of the toilet seat pin Ila re-engages with the clip I 9 and holds the seat in this position against the lifting action of the torsion spring l8. During the lowering of the seat the compression spring 20a serves to keep the cable 20 taut and the handle 2| in position. The direction of rotation of the closure will alternate.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 which in other respects is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 13, the closure 3 is rotatable as a whole about upper and lower pivots and the sterilizing or freshening unit is shown as two heating elements l2 located in the chamber 2 in positions clear of the path of movement of the seats.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 16 and. 17 which is suitable where a low flushing tank is to be employed the sterilizing or refreshing chamber 2 is combined with the flushing tank. In installations where there is limited floor space this embodiment would not contain the tank. Each of the panels 5, 6 with the half seats l5 mounted thereon is rotatable about upper and lower pivots 8 and 9 which are fastened to the panels and rotate in the members It and Ilia as in Figs. 14 and 15 and the sterilizing or refreshing unit is shown as two electrical heating elements [2 located in the chamber in positions clear of the path of movement of the half seats. The panels are rotatable in synchronism by operation of one looking handle 2|. For this purpose the cable 20 is extended, is passed through the upper hollow pivot 8 of one panel and down through the upper hollow pivot 8 of the other panel to operate the brake of the other pair of half seats while the lower two pivots are connected by a flexible shaft 24 so that rotation of the one panel produces a simultaneous rotation of the other.

I claim:

1. A sanitation device which comprises a chamber having an opening, electrical sanitizing means fixedly mounted within the chamber, a closure for closing the opening mounted for rotation at the front of the chamber, a pair of articles to be treated pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the closure with one article within the chamber and the other outside the chamber when the closure is in position to close the opening, the article outside the chamber being movable on its pivot from a position in which its plane is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the closure to a second position in which its plane intersects the plane of the closure, and means for locking the closure in position with one article within the chamber and the other exposed.

2. A sanitation device which comprises a chamber having an opening, sanitizing means within the chamber, a closure for closing the opening mounted for rotation at the front of the chamber, a pair of articles to be treated pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the closure with one article within the chamber and the other outside the chamber when the closure is in position to close the opening, the article outside the chamber being movable on its pivot from a position in which its plane is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the closure to a second position in which its plane intersects the plane of the closure, means acting on the respective articles and tending to move them toward their first positions relative to the closure, means for holding the articles in their second positions against the action of said first means, and means for locking the closure in position with one article within the chamber and the other exposed, said locking means being operable to release said holding means.

3. A sanitation device which comprises a chamher having an openingrsanitizing means within the chamber, a closure forclosing the opening mounted for rotational; the front of the chamher, a pair of articles to be treated pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the closure with one article within the chamber-and the other outside the chamber when the closure is in position to close the opening, the article outside the chamber being movable on its pivot from a position in which its plane is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the closure to a second position in which its plane intersects the plane of the closure, springs acting on the respective articles and tending to move them toward their first positions, means for holding the articles in their second positions against the action of said springs, and means for locking the closure in position with one article within the chamber and the other exposed, the holding means being releasable by the locking means when the latter is caused to unlock the closure.

4. A sanitation device which comprises a chamher having an opening, sanitizing means within the chamber, a closure for closing the opening mounted for rotation at the front of the chamber, a pair of articles to be treated pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the closure with one article within the chamber and the other outside the chamber when the closure is in position to close the opening, the article outside the chamber being movable on its pivot from a position in which its plane is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the closure to a second position in which its plane intersects the plane of the closure, springs acting on the respective articles and tending to move them toward their first positions, means for holding the articles in their second positions against the action of said springs, and a handle mounted on the closure and engageable with a portion of the device for locking the closure in position with one article within the chamber and the other exposed.

5. A sanitation device which comprises a chamber having an opening, sanitizing means within the chamber, a closure for closing the opening mounted for rotation at the front of the chamber, a pair of articles to be treated pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the closure with one article within the chamber and the other outside the chamber when the closure is in position to close the opening, the article outside the chamber being movable on its pivot from a position in which its plane is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the closure to a secand position in which its plane intersects the plane of the closure, springs acting on the respective articles and tending to move them toward their first positions, means for holding the articles in their second positions against the action of said springs, a handle mounted on the closure and engageable with a portion of the device for locking the closure in position with one article within the chamber and the other exposed, and a connection between the handle and the holding means through which the handle operates to release the holding means when the handle is moved to unlocking position.

6. A sanitation device for toilet seats which comprises a panel mounted for rotation, a toilet seat pivotally attached to the panel and movable from a position in which it lies substantially parallel to the panel to a second position in which it lies substantially horizontal, and an electrical sterilizing device mounted behind the plane of the panel and within the outline thereof and operable on the seat when the .seat hasbeen brought to the rear of the panel-upon rotation: of the latter. l 3 it x 7. A sanitation device for toiletrseats which comprises a panel mounted for rotation,.a toilet seat pivotally attached to the panel and movable from a position in which it lies substantially parallel to the panel to a second position in which it lies substantially horizontal, means tending to hold the seat in its first position, and an electrical sterilizing device mounted behind the plane and within the outline of the panel and operable on the seat when the seat has been brought to the rear of the panel upon rotation of the latter.

8. A sanitation device for toilet seats which comprises a panel mounted for rotation, a toilet seat pivotally attached to the panel and movable from a position in which it lies substantially parallel to the panel to a second position in which it lies substantially horizontal, means tending to hold the seat in its first position, means for preventing rotation of the panel while the seat is in its secondpositiomand an electric sterilizing device mounted behind the plane and within the outline of the panel and operable on the seat when the seat has been brought to the rear of the panel upon rotation of the latter.

9. A sanitation device for toilet seats which comprises a panel mounted for rotation upon an axis lying substantially in the plane of the panel, a toilet seat pivotally attached to the panel near the lower edge of the latter for swinging about a horizontal axis, and an electrical sterilizing device mounted behind the plane and within the outline of the panel and operable on the seat when the seat has been brought to the rear of the panel upon rotation of the latter.

10. In a sanitation device for toilet seats, the combination of a panel mounted for rotation upon an axis lying substantially in the plane of the panel, a pair of toilet seats attached to the panel near its lower end, the seats lying on opposite sides of the panel and being mounted for swinging movement on horizontal axes, and a sanitizing device behind the plane and within the outline of the panel and operable on the seat at the rear of the panel.

11. A sanitation device for toilet seats, which comprises a panel formed of spaced parts and rotatable about an axis substantially in its plane, a toilet seat mounted on at least one side of the panel, a stationary wall closing the space between the parts of the panel, and a sanitizing device mounted behind the wall and within the outline of the panel.

12. A sanitation device for toilet seats, which comprises a panel formed of spaced parts and rotatable about an axis substantially in its plane, a toilet seat mounted on at least one side of the panel, a stationary wall closing the space between the parts of the panel, and an electrical sterilizing device mounted behind the Wall and within the outline of the panel.

13. A sanitation device for toilet seats, which comprises a pair of panel members lying side by side in a common plane, each member being rotatable on an axis in its plane and the axes being parallel, at least one toilet seat member mounted on each panel member at one side thereof, and a sanitizing device at the rear of the panel members in position to act on the seat members when they lie at the rear sides Of their respective panel members.

14. A sanitation device for toilet seats, which comprises a pair of panel members lying side by side in a common plane, each member being rotatable on an axis in its plane and the axes being parallel, a toilet seat member, mounted pivotally on each panel member to lie at one side thereof, each seat member being movable from a position in which it lies parallel to the panel member to a position in which it lies horizontal, and means for connecting the panel members for rotation in unison.

15. A sanitation device for toilet seats, which comprises a pair of :panel members lying side by side in a common plane, each member being rotatable on an axis in its plane and the axes being parallel, a toilet seat member mounted pivotally on each panel member to lie at one side thereof, each seat member being movable from a position in which it lies parallel to the panel member to a position in which it lies horizontal, a sanitizing device for acting on the seat members when they are to the rear of the panel members, and means for connecting the panel members for rotation in unison.

16. A sanitation apparatus for toilet seats,

JAMES MONAGHAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,165,986 Mayo Dec. 28, 1915 1,236,902 Bowen et a1. Aug. 14, 1917 1,800,226 Monayhan Apr. 14, 1931 1,800,261 Monaghan Apr. 14, 1931 

